Skagit County
Pioneer CertificatesThe Skagit Valley Genealogical Society will issue Pioneer Certificates to direct descendants of early Skagit County settlers.Because
many of our settlers have been common, ordinary people, they have gone unnoticed in the
history of our county.This is a means to
gather information to honor them.In addition
to receiving a Pioneer certificate, applicants will be helping to preserve the history of
Skagit County pioneers.

Eligibility: To qualify for a Pioneer Certificate, the applicant must document direct descent from an Ancestor who came to the Skagit County area, Washington Territory.The applicant need not presently reside in Skagit
County.There are four types of certificates
available:

Skagit County Founding
Pioneer - before Skagit County became a
county onNovember 28,1883.Skagit County Territorial Pioneer -
November 28, 1883 to Washington Statehood on November 11, 1889Skagit County Pioneer Citizen - born in Skagit County prior to November 11, 1889Skagit County Century Pioneer - an ancestor who was a resident of Skagit County more than 100 years prior to the date of application.

Applicant need not be a resident of Washington State.After proof of descent has been submitted with
application fee and eligibility has been verified, the appropriate Certificate will be
mailed to the address on the application.A
separate certificate will be issued for each properly documented ancestor.If an applicant desires additional certificates
for the same pioneer ancestor, proof needs to be submitted only one time.Additional certificates may be obtained by
providing the name of the previously documented ancestorwith a document number and relationship to the ancestor.

Instructions

1.A separate application is required for each
certificate requested.The name of only one
ancestor can be identified on a
certificate.Type or print all entries.Legibility is important.

2.A complete application consists of the
following:

(a)An application form completed on both sides.Only the current version of the form
provided by SVGS will be accepted.Applications submitted on other forms will be
returned for resubmission on the proper form.The
second page of the application form calls for a listing of the known children of the ancestor, not the applicant.

(b)A
pedigree chart showing the ancestral line(s) of the person to whom the certificate is to
be issued.The chart must
begin with the person to whom the
certificate is to be issued and extend through the ancestor.The chart should include the dates and places of birth, death and marriage to the best of the applicant's ability to provide them.A
pedigree chart is provided with the application form; however, any standard pedigree chart
form (including computer generated charts) is acceptable.

(c)Always
include the maiden name of all females as well as given names of ancestors.

(d)One copy
of a document per generation should be enclosed to prove your lineage.Do not send
originals.Each
generation must be
documented.A list of acceptable types
of documentation is shown below.

3.Include a check or money order, made payable
to Skagit Valley Genealogical Society (SVGS) in the amount of $5.00 for each
certificate requested.

Acceptable Types of Documentation (Proof):
1.FEDERAL OR TERRITORIAL CENSUS.Information may be hand copied IF you include
date census was taken, household numbers and
page numbers.Relationships may be shown on
federal censusfrom 1880 on.Residency will be verified in the census.
2.OFFICIAL VITAL STATISTIC RECORDS (birth,
death, and marriage).Birth records must have
parents names listed.The mothers maiden name
must be shown if your application is down through her line.
3.OFFICIAL COURT RECORDS such as wills, estates,
citizenships, divorce, voting records, tax roll records, guardianships, land records and
litigation.Abstracts of title may include
many of the foregoing vital facts that you need.Many
cemetery records provide a great deal of vital information such as family relationships.
4.MILITARY RECORDS, SCHOOL AND CHURCH RECORDS
5.ANCESTOR DIARIES and OLD FAMILY BIBLES may be
used in some cases.Please do not use bibles after 1910 as there are many other forms of proof after that date.

Disclaimer

All applications and documents proving lineage become the property of Skagit Valley
Genealogical Society.It may be possible
that sometime in the future our society may decide to publish material from your
submissions, unless otherwise indicated.Please
check the box below if you do not want your material published.{ }Permission granted to
include my information in any future publications of Skagit Valley Genealogical Society.
For future publication, please submit a short biography of your ancestor including
all children of your ancestor, and a photograph, if desired{ }DO NOT publish my information in any publication
of Skagit Valley Genealogical Society.

Please allow several weeks for us to process your application
and verify your information.

Send all materials needed to
complete the application for each certificate to:

2.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Born on ___________________________ at _______________________________________________
Died on ___________________________ at _______________________________________________
AND ________________________________________________________________ (his/her spouse)
Born on __________________________ at ________________________________________________
Died on __________________________ at ________________________________________________
Date of their marriage _______________________ at
_________________________________________
No. 2 above was the_____ son, ______
daughter of:

3.___________________________________________________________________________________
Born on ____________________ at
_____________________________________________________
Died on ____________________ at
_____________________________________________________
AND
________________________________________________________________ (his/her spouse)Born on
____________________ at ___________________________________________________
Died on ____________________ at
_____________________________________________________
Date of their marriage _______________________at
________________________________________
No. 3 above was the_____ son, _______ daughter of:

4.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Born on ___________________________ at _______________________________________________
Died on ___________________________ at _______________________________________________
AND ________________________________________________________________ (his/her spouse)
Born on __________________________ at ________________________________________________Died on __________________________ at
________________________________________________
Date of their marriage ________________ at
________________________________________________
No. 4 above was the _______ son, _______ daughter of:

5.___________________________________________________________________________________
Born on ___________________________ at _______________________________________________
Died on ___________________________ at _______________________________________________
AND ________________________________________________________________ (his/her spouse)
Born on ___________________________ at _______________________________________________
Died on ___________________________ at _______________________________________________
Date of their marriage _________________ at
_______________________________________________
No. 5 above was the______ son, ______
daughter of:

6.___________________________________________________________________________________
Born on ___________________________ at _______________________________________________
Died on ___________________________ at _______________________________________________
AND ________________________________________________________________ (his/her spouse)
Born on ___________________________ at _______________________________________________
Died on ___________________________ at _______________________________________________
Date of their marriage _________________ at
_______________________________________________

DOCUMENTATION
The following evidences of proof are submitted with this application to show that each
generation can be traced back to my ancestor.(Please
list proof on line to correspond with numbered individuals above).
1)_____________________________________2) _________________________________
3)_____________________________________4)_________________________________
5)_____________________________________ 6)_________________________________

ANCESTOR BIOGRAPHY:(Use blank sheet of paper if more space is needed.Photo appreciated if available.)

ADDITIONAL CERTIFICATES(Ordered at the same time)
The following members of my family wish to have certificates issued in their names for the
above pioneer ancestor.
1)_____________________________
Relationship:
____________Proof of Descent ________________
2)_____________________________Relationship: ___________ Proof of Descent ________________
3)_____________________________ Relationship: ___________ Proof of Descent ________________

(Additional certificates may be ordered ona separate sheet of paper giving same information
as above)
Did pioneer have children by another marriage?____
Yes____
No
List them as a separate family on another sheet.

PIONEER CERTIFICATION COMMITTEE MEMBER

Skagit Valley Genealogical Society

This is to certify that I have checked the submitted proof and find
that the above named pioneer was in Skagit County by the time stated, and that the
applicant qualifies for a ________________________________ Certificate.

Certificate No. issued this ___________ day of _________,200___SVGS Representative:____________________________________